I bought and installed 10 Blue Point switch machines for my small switching layout. After installing the first one--learning curve--the other nine were very easy to install. They all have worked flawlessly.
Nice work! What’s cool about the BP’s you can use additional throw rods to connect two switch machines together for a cross over. Then just have one fascia pull knob for the cross over. Tip: you can paint the flower pots to indicate type of switch. Example red/green for crossover , yellow/ green for yard tracks or industrial spurs. On the CNW in 90’s that is the color codes that were used at the yard in Northlake, IL. Targets were octagonal with a perpendicular piece of aluminum bolted on. Example , yellow target was the track, then green perpendicular piece was the lead or normal route. For crossovers, green was normal route, red was the crossover. Keep the videos coming! Greg
Glad to see you are using the Blue Point switch machines. I guess it all started with the ones that you got from me. They work great and are a perfect solution to avoid extra wiring under your layout that is required for electrically controlled switch machines.-Tom
Yes sir! Just finished installing six of them in my West Yard area. Works great. The layout is coming right along. I’ve been able to re-use a lot of track and components from the old layout. This one is going to be so much better in quality. Tim
@@What_If_We_Tried Hi, The accessory kit , New Rail Models #40025 mini flex link kit, for the Blue Point Switch machines that includes the cables, brackets and knob to hook up the switch machines. Midwest Model Railroad has all the items you need for the Blue Point switch machines, you can see more on their website (other vendors also carry the product). Good luck on your project.
Easy peasy! Those are what I'm going to install on the layout. I was on the fence between these and tortoise machines. This will be an easier route. And it looks like the option to power the frog is simple also. Another great video!!
I love it. I'm reconstructing my layout and I like the idea of no wiring. I'm going to use them in my yards, now that you've made it look easy. just a little time and patience. Thanks for this lesson
Wow 🤩……. Just the perfect time for this video !!! I bought a 10 pack and I just got the linkage pack to go with the switch point machines !! Thank you 🙏 so much 👍👍 !!
I didn’t know Blue Points came with metal brackets, threaded connectors and cabling! I’ve used a few dozen of them years ago and all they came with was the blue point machine itself.
I use PECO turnouts, I leave the spring in, also use Tortoise machines, I imagine the Blue Points are similar WRT the actuating wire size, I just use thicker wire, adjusting the holes per wire gauge.
You make it look easy enough even I could do it! Seriously, thanks for the video. A quick question, you mentioned in responding to my comment last week that you run your trains at low speed, and that really adds to the realism for the viewer. Do you have an estimate of what speed your switcher was running in this video?
Do you use the wiring switch on these machines to control your frog anywhere on the layout? I’ve got a small sectional piece for my home layout, a staging yard with switches, where I used a bullfrog turnout controller. It works basically the same way but you have to assemble it yourself. It’s got a simple switch on the bottom and you’re meant to take power from the stock rails into the switch, and then feed the power out the the frog. This seems like a little more complicated switch than the one that comes with the bullfrog. I’m curious to learn about that aspect.
Haha! The SC is non union. No need when it’s all fun and games. :) I am looking forward to the day when I can hold an operating session soon with the guys. Hopefully it won’t be too much longer.
It really depends on where you order from. You can get good deals on them from Midwest Model Railroad. I’m not sure how much cheaper than the Tortoise but it is cheaper. And you don’t have to worry about the power supply needed with the Tortoise. I think both have their strong points. I will use the Tortoise switch machines in my main yard where the turnouts are powered and controlled by the Yardmaster in the Tower. Everywhere else on the SC I am using these Blue Point machines. Tim
